About Us
We serve community members interested in being a part of the entrepreneurial community focused on startups, technology, and innovation, along with those interested in learning about it.
We believe that in order to have a healthy entrepreneurial community, we need a healthy ecosystem of connected resources. This community consists of entrepreneurs, investors, government, universities, students, service providers, large corporations, etc. These participants, working together with shared passion, are vital to the success of an entrepreneurial community.
Why we build Emerging Prairie
Our goal is to accelerate the growth and development of our communities so the region can create, attract and grow the businesses today that will create its tomorrow. Emerging Prairie is a resource that provides:
A platform to share knowledge, success and experiences
The pulse of the region’s entrepreneurial activity
A network of passionate individuals shaping the region’s future
GRAND FARM

DR. WILLIAM ADERHOLDT
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Grand Farm

DR. RUCHI JOSHI BHARDWAJ
Grand Farm Senior Program Manager of Education & Research

KAYTLYN COBB
Grand Farm Regional Assistant Director - UGA Grand Farm

ANDREW JASON
Grand Farm Ecosystem Director

JOHN MANN
Grand Farm Program Manager of Startup Ecosystem

NATHAN MARCOTTE
Grand Farm Senior Program Manager of Innovation Technology

HAILEE MEINERS
Grand Farm Field Technician

DREW MURRAY
Grand Farm Field Technician

ANN NOBRIGA
Grand Farm Senior Program Manager of Field Operations

STETSON URLACHER
Grand Farm Grower Program Coordinator

KYLE WHITCRAFT
Grand Farm Director of Program Management Office
STARTUP PROGRAMS

AUTUMN SCHAEFFER
Startup Programs Coordinator
EMERGING DIGITAL ACADEMY

BLAINE BOOHER
Program Director of Emerging Digital Academy

KATIE BURINGTON
Life Cycle Manager

JENNA RADTKE
Student Life & Recruitment Coordinator

DAVID VINSON
Student & Technical Support Specialist
EXPERIENCES + EVENTS

SYDNEY BRUSSEAU
Experiences + Events Manager

LIZ CAMPBELL
Director of Experiences & Events

TAYLOR LEE
Grand Farm Experiences + Events Intern

JADA SCHWINDT
Experiences & Events Coordinator

MADISON STONE
Experiences & Events Coordinator
FINANCE + OPERATIONS

LISA MISTIC
Grants Manager

KYLE GLANDER
Accounting Manager

DR. KIRA KNUTSON
Grants Coordinator

NICK SINNER
Facilities Manager
MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS

CARLY PFENNIG
Marketing & Communications Intern

ASHLYN SCHAUER
Marketing & Communications Specialist

MADI SIMPSON
Assistant Marketing Director for Grand Farm
EMERGING PRAIRIE

GREG TEHVEN
Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder
Board Member

BRIAN CARROLL
Chief Innovation Officer,
Grand Farm Co-Founder

MATT WENDEL
Chief of Staff
Our board members

KODEE FURST
BOARD CHAIR

MIKE DERHEIM
BOARD SECRETARY

JONATHAN WARREY
BOARD TREASURER

BYRON SNIDER

HOWARD DAHL

HEIDI HEITKAMP

MARY SNAPP
